Before & After Pics Highlight Adele's Impressive Weight Loss

Musician Adele, who rose to fame in the early 2010s, underwent a complete weight-loss transformation in 2020, just before the rise in popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. The singer admitted to shedding 100 pounds, and doing it on a transformative journey that included exercise and a healthy diet. "It was because of my anxiety. Working out, I would just feel better. It was never about losing weight, it was always about becoming strong and giving myself as much time every day without my phone," the "Rolling in the Deep" singer shared with British Vogue in 2021.

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It's well-known that mental health can benefit from exercise immensely, and Adele opened up about the changes she had noticed in herself. Adele told American Vogue in 2021. "I thought, if I can make my body physically strong, and I can feel that and see that, then maybe one day I can make my emotions and my mind physically strong." And in the years to come, she did just that.

Adele was never the same after her divorce, which she filed for in 2019. Speaking to Oprah Winfrey during the "Adele One Night Only" special, the singer revealed that divorce amplified her anxiety, and exercising helped calm it. "I had the most terrifying anxiety attacks after I left my marriage. They paralyzed me completely, and made me so confused because I wouldn't be able to have any control over my body," she explained (via People). The singer added that her workouts helped her get through the day during that period. 

While Adele used physical exercise as a tool to calm her anxiety, the star definitely worked out rigorously. In fact, the "Easy on Me" singer admitted that she even became "quite addicted to it." Speaking to British Vogue in 2021, Adele explained that one workout per day simply wasn't cutting it for her at the time. "I work out two or three times a day," she shared. "So I do my weights in the morning, then I normally hike or I box in the afternoon, and then I go and do my cardio at night. I was basically unemployed when I was doing it. And I do it with trainers." The star added that she understood her privilege, noting that having the time to work out and access to a personal trainer wasn't common. "It's not doable for a lot of people," Adele added.

The star also added that the surprise the public showcased after she revealed her weight loss on social media didn't shock her. "People are shocked because I didn't share my 'journey.' They're used to people documenting everything on Instagram, and most people in my position would get a big deal with a diet brand. I couldn't give a flying f***," Adele said, adding, "I did it for myself and not anyone else. So why would I ever share it? I don't find it fascinating. It's my body." Adele shared the first photo of herself post-weight loss on Instagram in May 2020, posing in a little black dress on her birthday. 

While plenty were thrilled to see Adele living a healthy and active life, some were disappointed by the star's decision to lose weight. "I'm a little bummed that Adele lost weight," a netizen shared on Reddit. Many felt as if the singer represented them somewhat through her weight, and when Adele shed the pounds, the connection they felt towards her was gone.

Adele isn't one to not respond to negative backlash, but the singer shared her disappointment with some of the comments she had come across. "The most brutal conversations were being had by other women about my body. I was very f***ing disappointed with that," the "Hello" singer explained to Vogue. "That hurt my feelings." However, the singer added that she understood some of the backlash, as her physique had always been discussed publicly. "My body's been objectified my entire career. It's not just now. I understand why it's a shock. I understand why some women especially were hurt. Visually I represented a lot of women. But I'm still the same person."

Since her weight loss, Adele has undoubtedly had much more fun with fashion, experimenting with shorter dresses and lower necklines. But most of all, the star stressed that her health was always a priority during her journey. In 2019, an insider told People that the singer's focus on health shifted because of her son, born in 2012. "She wants to stay healthy for her son's sake, and though it's been challenging for her to keep a new workout routine, she is sticking with it," the source shared.